Maugansville celebrates 'pride' at annual festival

Wooden replicas of a community barbershop were sold to benefit the Maugansville Historical Society

Wooden replicas of a community barbershop were sold to benefit the Maugansville Historical Society

September 02, 2002|by SCOTT BUTKI

scottb@herald-mail.com

While Martin "Marty" Bumbaugh was cutting hair Saturday at his Maugansville barbershop, as he has done since 1960, across the street people attending Maugansville Pride Day were buying wooden miniature replicas of the front of his business.

The replicas of Marty's Barber Shop at 1372 Maugansville Road are the 10th in an annual series, with sales benefiting the Maugansville Historic Society. The Historic Society hopes to use the money to buy - or have donated - a house where it can display historic artifacts, Daisy Fitz, a society board member, said.

By noon, the organization had sold about 35 of the 100 replicas of the business produced.

Bumbaugh, who turns 71 today, said he plans to continue his business as long as he remains healthy.

While Bumbaugh missed the 22nd annual event at Maugansville Community Park because he was working, his wife, Isabel, bought eight replicas to give to relatives and friends, he said.

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Bumbaugh said he was honored to have his business recognized with the replicas.

"I guess I'm one of the old fixtures now. It is really something," he said.

Bumbaugh started cutting hair in 1954, working for six years in Hagerstown before moving the business to its current site. The Maugansville Historic Society said the Bumbaugh property is more than 100 years old.

In 1960 Bumbaugh charged $1 for a haircut. More than 40 years later, the price is $5.50, though he said he knows he could charge more. Haircuts are by appointment only.

Jessie Miller, a member of the Historic Society, took a moment from selling the replicas Saturday to give an example of why she thinks it is appropriate to honor the business.

When Miller's late husband, Bernard, was sick, Bumbaugh would drive over to their house without complaint and give Bernard a haircut and shave.

"We really appreciated it," she said.

The organization's table was surrounded by other booths - about 40 total - selling items ranging from jewelry and ornaments to coasters and pillows.

The number of booths and the crowd size of about 3,000 is about the same as in past years, said Bob Walton, Pride Day chairman.

Many of the people interviewed Saturday said they return to the event repeatedly because they enjoy the food and crafts on sale.

Some, such as Ginny Grove of Cearfoss, said she has friends who she only sees once a year - at the event.

"It is very nice. It is just a small community-type thing where you get to meet your neighbors and see other neat things," said Dorothy Smith, who lives near Maugansville.

Rosemary Gearhart of Hagerstown said she likes the gospel music that was performed by Heavenly Harmony and the crafts on sale.

Others, including Lyn Hahn and Judy Noland of Hagerstown, said they enjoyed watching a demonstration of various dances by about 10 members of the Hagerstown Country and Western Dance Association. In addition to dancing every Saturday night, the 100-member group gives 10 to 20 demonstrations a year at events like Saturday's as well as in nursing homes, said Terry Belcher of McConnellsburg, Pa, the group's demo director.

"It is a blast. You get together with your friends," she said

Dancer Alice Grumbine of Hagerstown said the dancing is good fun, great exercise and a good way to meet people.

"It gets you out of the house," dancer Vicki Renner of Hagerstown said.